"We've got a long voyage in front of us. And the boat isn't gonna sail itself. Deep breath Yoshi. We haven't got all day." Father says, closing the door right as the boy tries to climb in.

"Seems like she's full" he tells him.

"Maybe we can squeeze in one more" dab dab says, squished against the window.

I shake my head, gripping the side of the carriage as it starts to roll away. I watch father and the boy- stubbins, as I've learned- talking. Father ends up leaving him behind. A mistake, if you ask me. The boys got heart.

Later, as we return home, I start to head toward the door to go back to my home.

"Where are you going?" Father asks

"Back home to pack my bags. I'll be on the ship in the morning- I know where it's docked" I tell him

"I can't convince you not to come, can I?" He asks

"Not at all, actually. Not like I care about your opinion anymore, anyway" I said over my shoulder, then walk out.

Back home, i toss my clothes and supplies into my bag, settling everything by the door in the morning.

A little while later, poly swoops in through the window.
"Hello, poly. Father's not trying to leave without me right now, is he?" I ask m

"Oh no, but he isn't letting that poor boy stubbins come. He's got heart, Novy- and I know you see it" she says

"So what I'm hearing, is you want me to help him onto the boat tomorrow?" I ask

"Can I count on you?" She asks

"Uh, always,palls. Wake me when it's time" I smile, laying down.

"Goodnight, darling" poly says

"Goodnight" I mumble, already drifting off from the long day.

"Wake up, nova! Time to help the boy" poly shouts, yanking open my blinds with her beak.

"How exactly are we doing this?" I groan

"I thought you'd have the plan. You're the fearless explorer, not me" she argues

"What? You expect me to have a plan when it was your idea first?" I argue back

"Yes!" She says

I stare at her for a second. Then it clicks.
"Alright... I've got it" I say, grinning.

I sit on Betsy's back as we swing open the boys bedroom door. Betsy leans in and gives him a big, sloppy lick.

"Poly? What are you doing here?" He asks groggily.

"Making sure you don't miss the boat." She says simply.

"Im...talking to an animal? Just like Dolittle" He asks, wide eye.

"Oh no, she's speaking human. Better than any parrot ever has, actually" I say, leaning in through the window.

"You're here too?" He asks

"My father has a real good talent for shutting people out, so I'm here to make sure he doesn't do it to you. Now let's pack some clothes" I say

Poly starts opening drawers with her beak.
"There's something special about you, stubbins, something I've ever seen in three other people. You belong with us kid" poly says softly

"And you let us worry about Dolittle- that's our job. So...are you ready for the adventure of a like time?" I ask, grinning.

"I'm in" he smiles

"Of course you are!" Poly exclaims

"Poly, novy- let's move, we have a boat to catch and we're burning daylight" Betsy calls.

"Fear not, we have the perfect plan" the fox- tu tu - shouts from the top of her head.

"New plan! New plan!" Betsy yells minutes later as we charge down the street, stubbins and I clinging onto her back.

"Why are they chasing us? we're not criminals!" Poly exclaims

"Speak for yourself- we're wanted in three forest" Betsy yells

"I'm wanted in many places and I'm only twenty!" I laugh

"Plus, it's not an escape mission if you're not being chased!" Tu tu adds

"Ahh!" Stubbins yells, slipping off the side.

"Hold on!" I shout, grabbing his arm.

"Which way, tu tu?" Betsy yells

"Down!" Tu tu yells

"Clear the way!" Betsy cries, leaping over barrels.

"Get off the road Betsy!" Tu tu shouts

"See you later suckers!" Betsy exclaims, jumping over a wall.

"Woo we've done it! We've done it! We- missed it" Betsy groans, spotting the boat sailing away.

"How dare he try to leave without us! Without me!" I exclaim

"Ok boss what's our next move?" Betsy asks

"We take out loses, change out identities, ditch the kid in the river" tu tu starts

"Woah woah woah easy. I have a plan, you just might not like it." I cut tu tu off.

"Is it the bridge?" Stubbins asks

"Yep, let's go" I grin

"Ah yes the bridge that was my next suggestion" tu tu mutters

"Alright bes. Moment of truth" tu tu yells

"Oh big hole 12 a'clock." Betsy shouts.

"Maybe this was a bad idea" stubbins says

"We'll be fine- at least I will" I mumble

"I've run out of track!" Betsy yells

"Fly and be free!" Tu tu cries as we slide off of her neck to grab the hanging platform.

Tu tu starts to lower it down, but it jams half way.
I glance up, a knot in the rope.

"Alright, stubbins. You might not like this next part" I warn

"What-" he starts

Before he can finish, I'm already climbing over the edge.

"Are you joking?!" He yells

"Not one bit! I've jumped off higher when I was younger- you'll be fine" I say

He climbs over beside me, still muttering something about how crazy I am.

The boat passes beneath us.
"Now!" I shout

We both leap, landing on the sail to cushion our fall. I grab the ringing rope, catching stubbins hand as we swing over the deck. I land neatly on my feet; he lands face first- but at least it's on a pile of ropes.

"Do it again! Do it again!" The mice cheer.

"Yes! Crushed it kid, nova expected nothing less" Yoshi says proudly

"Ah they're alright. Poly, can I have a word, please?" Father asks, then grabs her.

By the time I look back, fathers hanging a sign on his door that reads 'no humans allowed'. Strange- considering he's one himself. Then again, not much father does is normal.

"He's absolutely thrilled to have you" poly lies with a smile.

"He must be just as thrilled I'm here too then" I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"What happened between you two? I thought you used to be very close" stubbins asks

"That's a story for another time kid" I tell him, walking towards the edge of the deck.